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*NOTE: This written piece comes from self-acquired findings, studies and ideas that I have formed in recent months. This was intended mainly for myself to give my friendly character more edge. During the writing and research, I increasingly got the idea that the bad boy character is often incorrectly misinterpreted. I found out that many people have the potential to be a little bad boy but that there is a misperception about the bad boy. Because of this misperception, most men try to adapt characteristics without knowing why the bad boy character even has these characteristics.. I've made some sort of summary for myself, which might be useful for other members of the forum who wish to give their character more edge. I do not consider myself as a stereotypical bad boy, but I do have some characteristics some might call 'bad' 
TL;DR There is a short recap at the end of this post*
Intro
Think of a bad boy - of any figure that this term calls to mind - and now try to define this term. If we are to believe the stereotypes you'll see a daredevil with a leather jacket or denim jacket and sunglasses riding a motorcycle. Even though this seems a fairly accurate picture of how the bad boy is presented in the current mainstream media, this is only a very one-dimensional reflection of this complex character. To make matters worse, this one-dimensional character is misrepresented in current mainstream media. Instead of the rebel character from which the bad boy has emerged, and from which his character and appearance can be explained, he is now put down as an asshole whose sole purpose it is to manipulate,deceive and piss people off. Even though this character is a part of the bad boy persona, it starts to slowly oppress the other (much interessting) characteristics of the bad boy persona. We totally ignore the inner motives and just looking at the external characteristics, making the bad boy look like the bad guy instead of the anti-hero role. That's why today I show the underexposed side of the bad boy. I try to identify the inner motives and thoughts of the bad boy so to get a better understanding of what the bad boy character really is.
And maybe, with this better understanding of the bad boy, help people adapt certain characteristics to give their character more edge.
Orgins of the current bad boy
The bad boy stereotype in current mainstream media is derived directly from the 50s rebel character. With cultural icons like James Dean and Marlon Brando playing rebellious teenagers, this was the beginning of the bad boy persona as we know him today in all sorts of artistic mediums (litertature and films). In these years, the bad boy was part of the rebel character, and many of today's characteristics and appearance of the bad boy can be withdrawn from the rebel character from the 50s.
James Dean and his motorcycle
The bad boy is generally an appealing figure that excites us in some way. Although there is no single concise definition of the bad boy he is usually attractive: either physically or through his actions or his lifestyle.
It is very unfortunate that the bad boy persona has turned into a caricature of itself. By focusing on the external characteristics (clothing and resist society) we moved past the inner motivation of this persona (questioning society and its rules).
But the bad boy isn't just a 50s movie persona. The bad boy persona appears in in all sorts of artistic mediums (though most prevalently in literature and film) and different periods of time. The classic bad boy figures can be found in almost every period of social uprising (like the 50s were) and are deemed liberators and instigators of cultural and social reform as inimical to the society they are attempting to change. So to define the term "bad boy" it requires to be examined from multiple perspectives, acknowledged in its multiple forms, and understood within its distinct cultural meanings.
The bad boy is a cultural phenomenon that exists as an archetype in all sorts of artistic mediums, , and even in the real world. The bad boy is defined through his actions and his philosophy of resistance - of challenging the world (ours or his own) on the normalcy of its convictions. The bad boy therefore needs to be understood as a social, psychological, and imaginative/creative cultural phenomenon. Which brings us to..
Orgins of the archtype bad boy
Now we know all about where the present day bad boy originates from, we can dive deeper into this rebellious character.
James Dean reading
Allthough the general use of the term "bad boy" erroneously labels them all identically, bad boys fall into several disparate categories.
*DISCLAIMER: There is now a very large piece of text with very little useful content. If you really want to read futher, be me guest.
Tl;dr nothing interesting really..
However, these distinct types of bad boys do share a common feature: their role as liberators in society. Bad boys can catalyze liberation on many different levels, ranging from the sociopolitical to the intrapersonal. How a bad boy is defined as a liberator is entirely based on his world view. This determines the bad boy's course of action: he may lash out as an act of resistance or rebellion against society, or instead shut himself away and become a luminary for the those who admire him and guide them towards revolutionary thought. The bad boy's critical view reveals how they react to their surroundings and to society itself: it determines whether they challenge society head on or from the shadows, whether they protest with elaborate speeches or Molotov cocktails, and whether they are remembered as renowned public heroes or controversial social outlaws. It varies with each individual bad boy: some may not even have the conviction to state outright their desires for emancipation. Instead, their goals may be disguised in a comedic form allowing for plausible deniability of statements they make or actions they commit that society finds completely intolerable.
The bad boy is in a constant state of turmoil: he is at war with himself, a war that both isolates him and works to erode his sanity. He resists his norms and he fights against his own emotions and conscience. This struggle takes a hefty toll on the bad boy, pushes him past his limits, and wears him down physically and mentally. This sort of resistance is prevalent in all aspects of the bad boy's life since even he resists himself. To "bad boy" is therefore to embody resistance.
Bad boys challenge us to admit that changes are necessary but they can also indicate that current social norms should remain unchanged. Whether they are loved or hated by the public or even cause a social divide, these figures succeed in drawing attention to social issues and providing commentary on them.
Recap
The bad boy is in my opinion a misunderstood character. Instead of the rebel character from which the bad boy has emerged, and from which his character and appearance can be explained, he is now put down as an asshole whose sole purpose it is to manipulate,deceive and piss people off. Even though this character is a part of the bad boy persona, it starts to slowly oppress the other (much interessting) characteristics of the bad boy persona. We totally ignore the inner motives and just looking at the external characteristics, making the bad boy look like the bad guy instead of the anti-hero role.
The bad boy is a cultural phenomenon that exists as an archetype in all sorts of artistic mediums, , and even in the real world. The bad boy is defined through his actions and his philosophy of resistance - of challenging the world (ours or his own) on the normalcy of its convictions. The bad boy persona is rebellious, but with a purpose. He is there to liberate society, or at least open their eyes. He's bad.. but bad for a reason, or in other words:
Comments, support, constructive criticism, compliments and such are always welcome and I look forward to it.
Pax Vobiscum,
Ares
* P.S. As already said, English is not my native language. So occasionally some words, phrases or expressions may seem out of place or completely irrelevant. Also, the overall tone and underlying emotions could be lost during translation. For this I apologize in advance.
Also If anybody likes to add his findings feel free to post, this is just my humble opinion/view on the bad boy persona..
I'm planning on doing a part two, so I hope on some constructive criticism to make part 2 much better. Thank you all!
TL;DR There is a short recap at the end of this post*
Intro
Think of a bad boy - of any figure that this term calls to mind - and now try to define this term. If we are to believe the stereotypes you'll see a daredevil with a leather jacket or denim jacket and sunglasses riding a motorcycle. Even though this seems a fairly accurate picture of how the bad boy is presented in the current mainstream media, this is only a very one-dimensional reflection of this complex character. To make matters worse, this one-dimensional character is misrepresented in current mainstream media. Instead of the rebel character from which the bad boy has emerged, and from which his character and appearance can be explained, he is now put down as an asshole whose sole purpose it is to manipulate,deceive and piss people off. Even though this character is a part of the bad boy persona, it starts to slowly oppress the other (much interessting) characteristics of the bad boy persona. We totally ignore the inner motives and just looking at the external characteristics, making the bad boy look like the bad guy instead of the anti-hero role. That's why today I show the underexposed side of the bad boy. I try to identify the inner motives and thoughts of the bad boy so to get a better understanding of what the bad boy character really is.
And maybe, with this better understanding of the bad boy, help people adapt certain characteristics to give their character more edge.
Orgins of the current bad boy
The bad boy stereotype in current mainstream media is derived directly from the 50s rebel character. With cultural icons like James Dean and Marlon Brando playing rebellious teenagers, this was the beginning of the bad boy persona as we know him today in all sorts of artistic mediums (litertature and films). In these years, the bad boy was part of the rebel character, and many of today's characteristics and appearance of the bad boy can be withdrawn from the rebel character from the 50s.
James Dean and his motorcycle
The bad boy is generally an appealing figure that excites us in some way. Although there is no single concise definition of the bad boy he is usually attractive: either physically or through his actions or his lifestyle.
It is very unfortunate that the bad boy persona has turned into a caricature of itself. By focusing on the external characteristics (clothing and resist society) we moved past the inner motivation of this persona (questioning society and its rules).
But the bad boy isn't just a 50s movie persona. The bad boy persona appears in in all sorts of artistic mediums (though most prevalently in literature and film) and different periods of time. The classic bad boy figures can be found in almost every period of social uprising (like the 50s were) and are deemed liberators and instigators of cultural and social reform as inimical to the society they are attempting to change. So to define the term "bad boy" it requires to be examined from multiple perspectives, acknowledged in its multiple forms, and understood within its distinct cultural meanings.
The bad boy is a cultural phenomenon that exists as an archetype in all sorts of artistic mediums, , and even in the real world. The bad boy is defined through his actions and his philosophy of resistance - of challenging the world (ours or his own) on the normalcy of its convictions. The bad boy therefore needs to be understood as a social, psychological, and imaginative/creative cultural phenomenon. Which brings us to..
Orgins of the archtype bad boy
Now we know all about where the present day bad boy originates from, we can dive deeper into this rebellious character.
James Dean reading
Allthough the general use of the term "bad boy" erroneously labels them all identically, bad boys fall into several disparate categories.
*DISCLAIMER: There is now a very large piece of text with very little useful content. If you really want to read futher, be me guest.
Tl;dr nothing interesting really..
- The Revolutionary
The Revolutionary feels a strong pull toward righting wrongs. This type views the world and societies as unfair and unjust. The Revolutionary is not afraid of upheaval but actually finds it stimulating and encouraging. The potential for reform and transformation drives this archetype. The Revolutionary is also talented at seeing things in unique and thought provoking ways and are often natural leaders.This type can be also motivated by revenge, authority, power and control. The Revolutionary is not just political although that is the most common. They are also writers, artists, inventors and others who have done ground-breaking work that radically changes things.
The Troublemaker
The Troublemaker is often labeled the “bad boy or girl” and trouble seems to follow this type. This variant of the rebel archetype is often viewed only negatively and, while its reputation is well deserved, the Troublemaker has some excellent qualities. While this type enjoys “rocking the boat” disrupting the status quo and provoking others, this can also be used to keep a relationship from becoming stagnant, for example. The Troublemaker is not afraid of the change that results from chaos and agitation. Change is a welcome relief for the Troublemaker archetype. By keeping things unsettled and stirred up, his type is useful for maintaining integrity of others and bringing to light corruption and decay. The shadow can be an anarchist, creating chaos for the sense of power it provides. Similar to an arsonist who starts fires and then enjoys watching the chaos that ensues, the shadow Troublemaker makes trouble and then steps back to enjoy the show.
The Provocateur
The Provocateur tends to be the intellectual, challenging others with words and causing others to think about their own ideas more deeply. These types are thinkers and can make excellent motivational speakers. They see situations and problems from a different perspective than most, challenging others to think outside the box. This makes them good problem solvers and effective debaters. They feel compelled to rouse others from complacency or conformity. The shadow side enjoys making others uncomfortable for their own amusement and likes the shock value of being different or edgy. They enjoy having the upper hand, using their wit and natural intelligence to keep others confused. They love the role of Devil’s Advocate.
The Free Spirit
The Free Spirit lives by their own rules and loves to be different and free from the constraints of the status quo and acceptability. This type often dresses outlandishly or uses tattoos and hair dye to set them apart from others. They thrive on standing out of crowd. Driven by their own compass they neither rely upon nor look to others for how to live their life. They are spontaneous and independent making this type difficult to parent because they have an aversion to routines, rules and regulations. The shadow side is obnoxious, needs constant attention and is fickle and unreliable. They can be indifferent to the needs of others and how their behaviors impact others. They may find holding down a job, or remaining in relationships a real trial.
The Maverick
The Maverick is perfectly fine doing things on their own and without the support of others. This type tends to be quiet about their ideas and unlike the free spirit they don’t need to show the whole world how different they are. The Maverick has a confidence and security with who they are. They can go against the grain, say what needs to be said without worry what others will think and are more than prepared to stand alone in their convictions. They live by their own moral code. In the shadow this moral code can be one of revenge or law-breaking. They can also be rigid, inflexible and loners. It may be difficult for this type to be a team player or to be an effective leader. Working with others and learning to negotiate is not this type’s strength. Leave them alone and don’t cross them. Like all Rebel types they tend to hold lifelong grudges against those who have wronged them.
The Outsider/Misfit
Similar to the free spirit, the outsider enjoys the perspective of being the dissenting voice, and having an outsiders view. They feel like they are too different to belong anywhere and that the status quo is the worst kind of prison. They are always doing the unexpected. This type can be eccentric, odd and offbeat. They secretly longs to fit in but once accepted finds the experience to be stifling. The Outsider/Misfit archetype shares some similarities with the Orphan Child archetype. The Outsider or Misfit type will sometimes appear to be tough or unfeeling because always being on the outside or unable to fit in anywhere can be a challenge. This type struggles with loneliness and will often neglect the development of their potential or always highlighting their different-ness to set themselves above others. The light side includes, being unconventional and offering perspectives that can solve problems, inventive or being highly creative.
The Outlaw
The Outlaw is another type of the Rebel archetype. With a “rules are made to be broken attitude” this type, like the others, lives on the edge and is willing to defy authority figures that make laws that are unjust. They are unafraid of confrontations and can even enjoy the notoriety. The outlaw has an internal sense of right and wrong that supersedes societal expectations. The legend of Robin Hood is an example of breaking the laws that are deemed unfair and dispensing justice on one’s one. The shadow side can feel justified in resorting to violence or simply enjoys the thrill of breaking laws and going against authority without any purpose or breaking the law for personal gains.
The Reformer
The reformer feels a strong need to make changes in a world that is sorely in need of improvement. Unafraid of change and upheaval the reformer sees the value of disturbing the peace. This type is driven to improve the world beginning with their own lives. The tend to work on themselves constantly improving what can be improved. They also seek to improve the lives of others. This can be expressed in small ways such as becoming a physical therapist and helping to reform a broken body or in large ways such as leading campaigns against laws that are unjust. The reformer is willing to defy authority, leave their home and family to fulfill their goals of reform and social improvement. Any social movement such as the Civil Rights Movement, the Women’s Rights Movement, the Temperance Movement of the 1800′s all had reformers in their ranks. The shadow side can include being an extremist, narrow or single-mindedness to the point of becoming indifferent to the consequences and stubbornness.
However, these distinct types of bad boys do share a common feature: their role as liberators in society. Bad boys can catalyze liberation on many different levels, ranging from the sociopolitical to the intrapersonal. How a bad boy is defined as a liberator is entirely based on his world view. This determines the bad boy's course of action: he may lash out as an act of resistance or rebellion against society, or instead shut himself away and become a luminary for the those who admire him and guide them towards revolutionary thought. The bad boy's critical view reveals how they react to their surroundings and to society itself: it determines whether they challenge society head on or from the shadows, whether they protest with elaborate speeches or Molotov cocktails, and whether they are remembered as renowned public heroes or controversial social outlaws. It varies with each individual bad boy: some may not even have the conviction to state outright their desires for emancipation. Instead, their goals may be disguised in a comedic form allowing for plausible deniability of statements they make or actions they commit that society finds completely intolerable.
The bad boy is in a constant state of turmoil: he is at war with himself, a war that both isolates him and works to erode his sanity. He resists his norms and he fights against his own emotions and conscience. This struggle takes a hefty toll on the bad boy, pushes him past his limits, and wears him down physically and mentally. This sort of resistance is prevalent in all aspects of the bad boy's life since even he resists himself. To "bad boy" is therefore to embody resistance.
Bad boys challenge us to admit that changes are necessary but they can also indicate that current social norms should remain unchanged. Whether they are loved or hated by the public or even cause a social divide, these figures succeed in drawing attention to social issues and providing commentary on them.
Recap
The bad boy is in my opinion a misunderstood character. Instead of the rebel character from which the bad boy has emerged, and from which his character and appearance can be explained, he is now put down as an asshole whose sole purpose it is to manipulate,deceive and piss people off. Even though this character is a part of the bad boy persona, it starts to slowly oppress the other (much interessting) characteristics of the bad boy persona. We totally ignore the inner motives and just looking at the external characteristics, making the bad boy look like the bad guy instead of the anti-hero role.
The bad boy is a cultural phenomenon that exists as an archetype in all sorts of artistic mediums, , and even in the real world. The bad boy is defined through his actions and his philosophy of resistance - of challenging the world (ours or his own) on the normalcy of its convictions. The bad boy persona is rebellious, but with a purpose. He is there to liberate society, or at least open their eyes. He's bad.. but bad for a reason, or in other words:
Comments, support, constructive criticism, compliments and such are always welcome and I look forward to it.
Pax Vobiscum,
Ares
* P.S. As already said, English is not my native language. So occasionally some words, phrases or expressions may seem out of place or completely irrelevant. Also, the overall tone and underlying emotions could be lost during translation. For this I apologize in advance.
Also If anybody likes to add his findings feel free to post, this is just my humble opinion/view on the bad boy persona..
I'm planning on doing a part two, so I hope on some constructive criticism to make part 2 much better. Thank you all!
